and lying to me about it.”
My voice cracked.
“I need to understand.”
Charlie’s expression softened.
“I volunteer there.”
I frowned.
“At the center?”
“Yes. Most Thursdays. Have for about six years.”
He explained that his grandson had once gone through supervised visitation.
After seeing what the waiting room was like, Charlie continued volunteering even after his family no longer needed the service.
Then he said,
“Julian volunteers too.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“Every Thursday.”
“He never told me.”
“I don’t think he wanted people to know.”
“Why?”
Charlie thought for a second.
“Probably because he wasn’t doing it so people would know.”
Then he told me what Julian actually did there.
Every Thursday around four, Julian arrived straight from work.
Still wearing his tie.
Sometimes he read stories.
Sometimes he colored.
Sometimes he helped kids build castles from cardboard boxes.
He did ridiculous character voices.
